John Rachel asked Tema N. Merback:

Was your mother's story communicated specifically for the writing of your book or something accumulated over your life as a family?

Tema N. Merback My mother, Dina, began telling me her story when I was a child. I was her psychologist. She washed her trauma through me by sharing her story. However, I had a clear understanding of the events and the characters long before I ever began pecking away at the computer. When I decided to write the book, we revisited every minute of her tragic journey. I worked closely with her, taping her, interviewing her, and daily, as I wrote, speaking with her. It was a difficult labor of love. It was a journey that I am extremely proud of. Thank you for asking.

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